Double regatta action for Ryde Rowing Club

Many thanks to Steve from Ryde Rowing Club for this report from the Christchurch Regatta & Wessex Junior Regatta which both took place at the weekend. Ed

It was another long and busy weekend for Wightlink sponsored Ryde Rowing Club as they competed at Christchurch Regatta on Saturday, 8th June – and were the only Island representatives at the Wessex Junior Regatta, held at Bryanston School on the Sunday (9th June).

Controversy surrounded Christchurch Regatta where the fairness of the course was challenged throughout the day and almost certainly affected the outcome of some of the races. It was very difficult to win if you were drawn on the Bournemouth side of the River Stour where the regatta was held – the two boat racing format giving no margin for error.

Early exit for several Ryde crews
Arguably, partly as a result of this, several Ryde crews suffered an early exit – although there were some very close finishes – in particular the Coastal Junior Ladies crew of Steph Kissick, Heidi Kissick, Gemma Smith and Alicja Stokes with Sam Brading Coxing and the Men’s Novice “A” crew of Callum Lockhart, Will Ford, Isaac Cornish and James Smith with Mick Jenner coxing probably suffered this fate. The very young Men’s Novice “B” crew of Jacob Redstone, Joel Smith, Jo Groves and Matthew Jeacock with Sam Brading coxing also suffered a first round exit before competing in the J16 event where Jacob and Joel were joined by Dom Douglas and Tom Kearney to form the “A” crew and Jo and Matthew were joined Catalin Smith and Katie Corney to form the “B” crew – both crews being coxed by Bryony Reeve – the A crew reaching the semi-final anf the “B” crew the quarter final.

Men’s Senior Four
A Men’s Senior Four – racing together for the first time – of Ian Hayden, Matt Allsopp and Joe and Charlie Norman, with Sam Coxing again were unfortunate to draw the eventual event winners – BTC – in the semi-final – where they were narrowly beaten.

However the Men’s Coastal Junior Four of James Cleary, Stephen Johnson, Ollie Gove, Adam Edwards with a very busy Sam Brading coxing salvaged something from a disappointing day for the Ryde Club rowing impressively through their semi-final and the final to win for the 4th time this season to maintain their lead in for this Hants & Dorset Championship – and to earn the nomination to represent the Association at this years South Coast Championships.

Wessex Junior Regatta
On the Sunday, a team eight junior athletes, with a support team, were the Island’s only representatives at the Wessex Junior Regatta, held at Bryanston School, in Dorset, over a short 300m course, with two boat racing once again.

A number of top school boat clubs in attendance including the host Club, Bryanston – along with a number of Hants & Dorset ARA Clubs.

Quads and Double and Single sculls
Events were stage in River Coxed Quads and Double and Single sculls for Boys and Girls in age groups from J11 through to J16. First afloat for Ryde two Boys J14 doubles – of Dom Douglas pairing Jo Groves and Joel Smith with Jacob Redstone – with both crews reaching the semi-finals.

They then got together as a J14 Quad – coxed by Paddy Kearney – who suffered the misfortune of drawing the eventual winners, from the host Club of Bryanston School, in the first round to whom they narrowly lost. Next afloat was Elys Norman and Austin Smith in a Boys J13 double who were beaten in the final. Elys then teamed up with Tom Kearney to compete in the Boys J15 double who reached the semi-final.

Tom also competed in a composite J15/J16 Mixed double with Milly Hackett from Coalporters Rowing Club – who were beaten in the final. Austin Smith competed again in a J11/12 Boys single where he was narrowly defeated in the semi-final and Tom Kearney raced in the Boys J15 Single Sculls but was narrowly defeated in the first round. Finally the J14 squad – competed again in singles – but were all defeated in the quarter-finals.